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Many people relocate to Thailand because they prefer the lifestyle here over their home country. Often, they start a business or go to school to learn the Thai language, cooking, massage or Muay Thai.
Staying in Thailand for an extended period requires money, maybe even more money than you expected. Sometimes you can't make enough of it with your new business or you spend all that you have, so someone needs to send you more. Or you may need to support someone back home. There are various reasons why people transfer money internationally.
You can use money transfer services to support loved ones and obtain required finances no matter how far away you are from home. You can also use them to spend your retirement days in Thailand or live the digital nomad life. Other common reasons to use money transfer services include.
But nowadays, there are so many financial service providers. So, what's the difference? Firstly, there are three methods for moving money: online e-wallet systems, wire transfers, and bank transfers. Each company specializes in one. So, which ones are available in Thailand?
We'll get into all of these in a minute, but first, let's talk about safety. How can you keep my money safe when you send it to Thailand via the internet?
Security is crucial, and all the internet businesses we will be reviewing take their legal obligations extremely seriously. As a result, they take special precautions to safeguard the sensitive information you supply them, such as your personal information and identification.
But, of course, it's still preferable to be safe than sorry. So here are some other security practices for transferring funds:
For any service, you'll need the following details to wire money from another nation to a Thai bank account:
Using the "Add An Account" functionality, connecting your bank account(s) to an e-wallet account is simple. Once established, you can use the e-wallet to move payments between accounts, receive money online, and deposit money using a credit/debit card or bank transfer into the e-wallet.
Wise is Thailand's most popular online money transfer service because it lets you send money to Thailand at the real exchange rate with no hidden fees or charges. With a cost of only 1-1.5% of the amount to transfer, this service is significantly less costly than a bank transfer.
Plus, you can keep money in multiple currencies for free, and when you convert, it utilizes the actual exchange rate.
It's quick and straightforward to sign up. First, sign up with an email address or a Facebook, Apple, or Google account online or the Wise app. Next, link your account to your new profile so that people may send money directly to your bank account.
Here's how you can get money:
In two swift actions, you can send money online:
Wise is 13 times less expensive than major Spanish banks, eight times less costly than major UK banks, and five times less costly than major Swiss, French, and German banks!
Wise gives you the best rate (Google rate), doesn't charge a margin, and has transparent fees. The cheapest method is bank debit (ACH), followed by bank wire transfer, debit card, and credit card.
PayPal has been in business for a long time. Depending on the amount sent, it charges a 3–8% fee. However, for more than 5000 THB, withdrawals to a Thai bank account are free.
When it comes to money transfers, Xoom is convenient, but it is also expensive compared to other money transfer services. The transfer charge varies depending on the amount and the method of payment. For example, if you pay via bank transfer, there is no fee; however, there is a percentage fee if you pay by card. They also include a margin in the exchange rate.
How do I use Xoom to send money?
Xoom will send the money in 1-2 business days.
You can receive funds or fill your account for free and then transfer the money to your Thai bank account for a nominal cost of 25 THB (on transfers of 999.99 Euros or less - their transaction limit).
Remitly accepts both credit and debit cards, and their Express option allows you to send money in minutes. In addition, Remitly has no minimum transaction amount, making it ideal for sending tiny amounts to relatives or friends in other countries. We enjoy Remitly because they are less expensive than Xoom/PayPal or Western Union for same-day money transfers.
People can also make payments via the Remitly website or mobile app.
Transferring money to Thailand costs $3.99 (for Express), and the conversion rate varies depending on the amount.
How do I use Remitly to pay with my debit or credit card?
Remitly is fantastic since it allows you to send money internationally in minutes. Furthermore, the money transfer can be received by bank deposit, cash pick-up, mobile money, or home delivery.
WorldRemit focuses on remittances and small transfers. They're ideal for personal money transfers to Thailand of up to $10,000 from the United States. Their rates are frequently better than those offered by your local bank, and they have more delivery alternatives than PayPal, MoneyGram or Western Union. They charge a $3.99 transfer fee and add a margin to the currency rate when sending money to Thailand.
How do I use WorldRemit to send money?
The time it takes to receive money is determined by the delivery method. For example, they will receive Thai baht in three working days if they send money via wire transfer. However, with a valid photo ID and transaction reference, Worldremit can dispatch cash immediately.
OFX is among the oldest money transfer firms with a solid security record. For those sending money from the United States, it adds a margin to the exchange rate but does not charge a transfer fee.
How do I use OFX to make a money transfer?
In one business day, the recipient will receive the money in Thai baht into their account.
That depends on which online money transfer service you choose.
XE and Wise have no limits on minimum transfer amounts. A single transaction with OFX requires a minimum of $150.
For personal accounts, Wise has a maximum transfer amount limit of $50,000. In addition, they have a maximum limit of $250,000 for business accounts in unlicensed jurisdictions and up to $1,000,000 in permitted states.
There are no limit transfer amounts for OFX and XE. Meanwhile, if you have the proper documents, Xoom has a 24-hour maximum of $50,000.
Wire transfer services are incredibly fast. Some transfers take only a few minutes. If you need to receive money but don't have a Thai bank account, these services are a suitable choice. However, their fees might be high - up to 20% on minor amounts in some cases.
Western Union is a dependable money transfer business that has been in operation for over 145 years.
With Western Union online money transfers, you may send money worldwide or around the corner from Thailand anytime. You'll also have peace of mind because you'll be able to follow the transactions using tracking codes.
A local agent can also help you send and receive money. There are roughly 100 locations across the country, so finding one close to you should be simple.
You must be 18 years old or older with a valid government-issued ID to transfer or receive money using Western Union (WU). A supplementary ID (for example, information about the country of birth or a residency status certificate) is sometimes required.
The rest of the information you'll need to provide about yourself and your recipient will be determined by whether you send or receive your message online or in person. If you've paid or received money with WU before, you'll already have a WU profile, which has most of the essential information. If you don't already have a profile, bring the necessary details when visiting a WU location or sending money online.
Moneygram allows you to send cash from one of its many locations or online.
Please bring the following items to your nearest Money Gram agent to send money to a Money Gram location abroad:
Please bring the following items to your nearest Money Gram agent to send money to a bank account:
To receive money at a Money Gram location in Thailand, you'll need your ID and address, the sender's location and name, and the transfer reference number.
DeeMoney is a relatively new financial solutions provider based in Thailand (established in 2018), specializing in money transfers and foreign currency exchange. It supports payouts to approximately 35 nations throughout the world. The transfer is customarily done straight into the receiver's bank account; however, the receiver can withdraw cash at specific places in some countries.
Transfers might take one to five days and cost between 150 and 250 THB depending on the destination country (except China, where the fee is 300 THB).
To begin transferring using DeeMoney, fill out a registration form at deemoney.com/sign-up and download the app. In addition, you can sign up in person at one of their locations. A Thai bank account and phone number are also required.
If you activate roaming on your cellphone to get the OTP through SMS, you can even transfer funds from your Thai bank account while you are abroad.
Transferring cash from a foreign bank account to a Thai bank account is only ideal if you need bank records (for example, purchasing a house and need a TT3) or sending significant quantities of money that wire transfers or e-wallet systems can't handle. In addition, fees and exchange rates vary from one bank to the next.
The three bank transfer options include wire transfer, check, or bank draft (cashier's check).
You'll need the receiving bank's SWIFT number to make a wire transfer from a foreign bank to a Thai bank account. The transaction can be completed over the internet or in person.
Because the sending and receiving banks both charge fees, these types of transfers are only cost-effective if the quantity sent/received is more than 130,000 THB. As a result, the total costs can range from 1800 to 2400 THB, regardless of the amount sent.
How can I transfer money from one bank account in the United States to another in Thailand?
Follow these procedures to send money from your bank account in Thailand to another bank account in Thailand:
It can take up to five business days to complete SWIFT transfers.
Not all Thai banks accept bank drafts (cashier's cheques) or international cheques, so you must check with your Thai bank in advance. Checks and drafts can take days to weeks to process and can result in fees of up to 2,000 THB.
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